2020 Viper

[Mopar'er no car]

**Not sure if this is a repost**

Looks like there is hope after all. I knew she would be back...

https://www.google.com/amp/www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/detroit-auto-show/news/amp27869/marchionne-new-viper-could-happen/


I just got a link to this story, didn't realize it was from last year!!!!

I promise next time I make a thread in the AM it will be after Caffeine. :)

[Mopar'er no car]

Looking for a recent video of Tim Kunnis talking about 2020..

[BrianACR]

It would be great if they brought it back! But we all know that it's not gonna be the same without that big ass V10 sitting up front...
just as long as they don't go FordGT on it and go with at V6 :t0135:

[Mopar'er no car]

It would be great if they brought it back! But we all know that it's not gonna be the same without that big ass V10 sitting up front...
just as long as they don't go FordGT on it and go with at V6 :t0135:


If it does come back we pretty much know that it will be based off another chassis.

Buidling a new Viper on a current chassis (likely ferrari) will completely dilute The original formula. Double in price being the most obvious.


We can only hope that a totally new model is developed with a Fiat branded sister car. At least it would be unique to itself instead of sharing another chassis that already existed.

[viperBase1]

It'll be a dual clutch (with paddle shifters) hybrid. Like the 918.

[ViperJon]

It only has to be faster, nothing else matters. If it is current Vipers will be cute antiquated footnotes.

[ViperSRT]

It only has to be faster, nothing else matters. If it is current Vipers will be cute antiquated footnotes.
... that we will continue to adore. Just finishing your sentence. My Vipers are here for the long run.

[Coloviper]

Doubt it will be back in any form. No champions or stakeholders in the Viper brand at FCA. Until someone steps up, the current gravestone end date is final. I say if they come up with a Viper like car to continue, then just give it a completely new name and build that up. Viper is what it is, no apologizes, no excuses. Let it die with its dignity and heritage in tact.

[ACRSNK]

Hopefully it does come back at some point. I highly doubt it will be what the current car is though. Even if it comes back faster and more refined, if there is no manual V10, it won't be much of a Viper to me.

[Patentlaw]

It only has to be faster, nothing else matters. If it is current Vipers will be cute antiquated footnotes.

This.

[99RT10]

Not happening. It could easily be back as a convertible right now, but the dumbasses at Fiat won't allow it. Don't expect anything but rumors until disappointment sets in the year 2020.

[SmoknTires]

So much I agree with up above.

I can tell you there was discussion not too long ago in the exec ranks (over a year and a half) about the plans for the next car - and there were very specific things they committed to doing as part of the plan which were interesting. However, and at the moment, FCA is focused on revenue producers (of greater significance). Things have changed of the years in a few different waves with our manufacturer. As others have astutely pointed out, the champions for cars like the Viper are pretty much all gone - and the company is very much focused elsewhere. And in line with a lot of the automotive world, the days of building a car to be a halo or simply to make a statement are getting more rare - finances weigh in a lot more than they used to as ROI is the name of the game (and a lot of for good reason - due to regulation, development cost, etc...). I am fairly certain at least for now, there is no plan to actively pursue a new car, but the plans that were discussed and seemed to be agreed were cool (shared platform, convertible only at first, no V10 (forced induction), paddles, etc...).

With that said, and as other companies have demonstrated (and even Dodge with bringing back old badges - and most recently the Demon)... There may be a time when a new Viper will again serve a greater purpose for them than it does now - and will likely be more cost feasible with future platform sharing. But I sense it's a good number of years off before that's even considered. Right now Sergio is all about Jeeps, trucks, Alfa, and little fiats... And of course the company will change, which throws all of that in the air. I do believe in the next 2 years, we'll have another big change (and frankly I welcome it, for selfish reasons).

Reflecting back on Viper - I'll say generally (and for those who remember the very early years of Viper)... We were always the underdog. And oddly, while Viper received a good reputation for being a brute, it failed to shed that persona as it evolved and somehow always classified as a car that couldn't turn... (and the Gen5 is truly evolved, as were each of the prior gen's when they came out). But what you'll see now, the Viper will become the martyr. I think for the first time in the last few weeks, when I read a RIP article for the Viper, it was 100% complimentary, touted how it better than almost EVERY other car, touted how it WAS the best when you factored cost, and stated it was America's "best super car". Saw similar elsewhere. But when it was around they would put it up against cars 5 times the cost and then complain how a door panel wasn't in line. Funny how it takes death for that to always happen. And as it fades, I do believe even more enthusiast sentiment will grow - and I'm eager for that to take hold even more.

This truly is the best American sports car. And ranking it against all in the world, it's damn near the top - for a price better than anything else. Best of all, it does it the American way - with grunt, value, and persona (and where else can you take a car off the showroom floor and take it right to the track - they are durable).

I do believe it'll be back - but a long time from now - they won't be able to resist reviving the name plate just to get the publicity. But it's going to be a hard wait, and there's certainly no plan at the moment. If you have one, keep it. If you don't, get one. These are truly special cars.

[Vprbite]

People still want 69 chargers even thouh there is a hellcat charger available. I do not believe previous vipers will be foot notes. Not even a little bit.

[BrianACR]

The '92-'17 Vipers will always be something special IMO. There is no other car with a big ass V10, real manual transmission, or that looks and performs as good for the cost. Not only that, but they didn't make hundreds of thousands of them(corvette).
They are all something special. Just like their owners lol

[Whitemamba]

The Dodge Viper was and will always be the car that made me appreciate sports cars and want one so bad. Growing up nothing really got my attention but as I grew older I started getting into cars like most of us and wanted a Corvette. But when the Viper came out, it was "the car" that made me lust after it and desire to own one. So as I got my first, second and third vette, I was content but not really in love with the car. I started telling my wife how I wanted a Viper and had always wanted one since I first saw one but that I thought I would never be able to get one. This started me looking and drooling.Then one day while I was at work she called me up and said "Well, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that the ones you are looking at are sold. She said the good news is that they have a White Mamba Edition and I bought it for you.". Since that day, I have been a true die hard fan of the Viper.I love all that it stands for. To me it is kind of a Rebel, that isn't all about being fancy but is given a job and does it. And does it with finesse and the power to back up whatever is thrown at it. It makes no excuses and takes no prisoners. Long live the Viper!!! Some of my cars will come and go but there will always be a Viper or two in my garage.

[Donato]

When all the publicity surrounding the Hellcat and Demon starts to fade, FCA will be looking for the next big stunt to bring them back in to the limelight once again. Viper left the scene on a high note so it should get a lot of attention when they bring it back. Hopefully they will have a better marketing strategy this time around..

[Patentlaw]

I don't know. I am a member of a few boards on the internet. I own a Lincoln Mark VIII. Last made in 1998. In the last year, they sold over 10,000 of them. People have been begging for Lincoln to make another. They sold way more than the Viper. Never came back even though there were renderings and actual concept cars that drew rave reviews. I am not convinced that Dodge will bring it back. They want to bring back that Alfa crap.

[Policy Limits]

People still want 69 chargers even thouh there is a hellcat charger available. I do not believe previous vipers will be foot notes. Not even a little bit.

Agreed

[ek1]

When all the publicity surrounding the Hellcat and Demon starts to fade, FCA will be looking for the next big stunt to bring them back in to the limelight once again. Viper left the scene on a high note so it should get a lot of attention when they bring it back. Hopefully they will have a better marketing strategy this time around..

It won't die for a while. The specs of the Demon are amazing. Wait till it hits the car magazine testing circuit. Also dont forget the Trackhawk, a family hauler with a 0 to 60 time of 3.5s, which is quicker than both Cayenne Turbo S and X5m. Giulia Quadrofoglio has raving reviews. I think as far as performance products are concerned, FCA is in a good shape for the next few years.

[Vipermann]

My guess:

With the Gov now easing EPA requirements, record oil output from the US, and a slowing of dealer sales and excitement, there is too much value in the 'VIPER' brand not to think it will be leveraged somehow in the future. Probably very unlike current cars, but have to think some synergy might be found with the next gen of Challenger platform - e.g. a sexier, high-HP 2-seat convertible/targa version of the same platform, different sheet metal, etc., but at a $50-$60K price to cause problems for Mustang, Camaro & Corvette.

SRT = a bunch of tuner parts
VIPER = a brand

IMO

[shnickerlaus]

Personally I like the uniqueness of the viper, it's a car not for everyone but for the few brave true car enthusiasts. I don't care about depreciation, lack of modern technology, driver aids, and so on. It's a experience every songle time you drive it on track or just out to the shops. It's a real head turner, and that will never go away. Now that viper has discontinued (again) I understand the reasoning, it failed to compete against the vette in the roi front. But I don't see that as a failing of the viper, more so that the vette was too compromised and people who couldn't handle a viper bought a vette. Just makes my car more rare and as years go by I'm less likely to pull up to the lights by another.

[Drummerviper]

Alex . I agree with you except on one point. In my opinion, Viper was anything but an underdog in the early days . Gen 1 and 2 blew away the competition, and car mags filled their covers with Viper pics. Thereafter, imo it lost its way with a vanilla design, then back to a good, but redundant design and a series of odd 1 of 50, of 100 , of 1 models when sales slowed .

It has to come back as it came in-- a barn burner.

[ViperJon]

Alex . I agree with you except on one point. In my opinion, Viper was anything but an underdog in the early days . Gen 1 and 2 blew away the competition, and car mags filled their covers with Viper pics. Thereafter, imo it lost its way with a vanilla design, then back to a good, but redundant design and a series of odd 1 of 50, of 100 , of 1 models when sales slowed .

It has to come back as it came in-- a barn burner.

I agree. It has to not only have great performance...but it has to be a drop dead knockout design. The less it resembles the ole clown-shoe the better.
New design for the new decade.

[Purple Haze]

If it looks anything like the GEN V or better I'm in...

[Boosted Motorsports]

Food for thought:

A lot of people always compare the Viper to be a competitor to the Vette and that the Viper never had the same success as the corvette did. But did FCA ever really intend on having even the slightest capacity to pump out the number of cars Chevrolet did for the Corvette? The CAP doesn't seem to be able to pump this kind of volume. Even with the slight surge in sales for the final 2017 they were (and are) having trouble with their ordering system and delays for vehicles. I know there has been a shortage of parts from suppliers but could this plant even accommodate a high volume of production and would FCA would be willing to do what it takes to have a bigger assembly line?

[Old Surfer]

I agree. It has to not only have great performance...but it has to be a drop dead knockout design. The less it resembles the ole clown-shoe the better.
New design for the new decade.Not sure I agree with that, look at the Challenger, Camaro and the Mustang. Old body design with new technology. What if they could make the Gen II slightly more advanced looking? Throw all of the new technology in it to make it a track and street weapon. I would definitely be interested.

IMHO, the later generations although better built with regard to handling, braking, acceleration, with supercar track statistics, didn't generate the same emotional response when I saw them. The clown shoe held its own against the supercar car world when it was introduced. I think when they changed the coupe in '06, the car lost a little of its soul. That's why the older air cooled Porsches, especially the 930 turbo (iconic design), Corvettes, Camaros, Cudas, are worshiped by the car cult.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Not sure I agree with that, look at the Challenger, Camaro and the Mustang. Old body design with new technology. What if they could make the Gen II slightly more advanced looking? Throw all of the new technology in it to make it a track and street weapon. I would definitely be interested.

IMHO, the later generations although better built with regard to handling, braking, acceleration, with supercar track statistics, didn't generate the same emotional response when I saw them. The clown shoe held its own against the supercar car world when it was introduced. I think when they changed the coupe in '06, the car lost a little of its soul. That's why the older air cooled Porsches, especially the 930 turbo (iconic design), Corvettes, Camaros, Cudas, are worshiped by the car cult.

Can't really put Camaro or the Mustang in the category of "Old body design with new technology". This may have rang true about 10 years ago when the big 3 did a throwback to the old design. The Mustang and Camaro now barely have any styling cues from the 60s/early 70s cars. Challenger body still hasn't changed...

[Old Surfer]

Can't really put Camaro or the Mustang in the category of "Old body design with new technology". This may have rang true about 10 years ago when the big 3 did a throwback to the old design. The Mustang and Camaro now barely have any styling cues from the 60s/early 70s cars. Challenger body still hasn't changed...Mustang '69 and '15. Definitely a lineage there.

[ViperJon]

What if they could make the Gen II slightly more advanced looking? Throw all of the new technology in it to make it a track and street weapon. I would definitely be interested. .

They did, it was called the Gen V. Which by the way sold dismally till the discontinuation was announced and would have continued to do so if they were still in production.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Hmmm barely! Besides the 3 vertically divided tail lights the rear is quite a bit different and the rear panel is almost on a 45* angle on the new car. Front end looks more like a ford fusion than a mustang.

Compare the 2005 front end to the 1969
http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2014/06/15/370016/big_thumb_73e0375ab758125e7c5b289d5cddd9a8.jpg
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/attachments/2005-2010-mustang-talk/109807d1284054881-white-hood-scoop-black-stripes-2005-mustang-gt-ssf8.jpg

Also the rear of the 2005 is much more of the same angles of the 1969
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5c/75/01/5c7501a58d0f1951e8d987f51bd5b40d.jpg
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/attachments/2005-2010-mustang-talk/73311d1246572767-2005-mustang-gt-rear-window-louvers-dsc00407.jpg

[ACRucrazy]

Viper

[Old Surfer]

Hmmm barely! Besides the 3 vertically divided tail lights the rear is quite a bit different and the rear panel is almost on a 45* angle on the new car. Front end looks more like a ford fusion than a mustang.

Compare the 2005 front end to the 1969
http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2014/06/15/370016/big_thumb_73e0375ab758125e7c5b289d5cddd9a8.jpg
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/attachments/2005-2010-mustang-talk/109807d1284054881-white-hood-scoop-black-stripes-2005-mustang-gt-ssf8.jpg

Also the rear of the 2005 is much more of the same angles of the 1969
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5c/75/01/5c7501a58d0f1951e8d987f51bd5b40d.jpg
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/attachments/2005-2010-mustang-talk/73311d1246572767-2005-mustang-gt-rear-window-louvers-dsc00407.jpgHey! That was 35 plus years in age difference. ;) I guess a 2020 GTS would be about the same '96 versus '20.

[ACR_Matt]

Personally, I much prefer the Gen I/II designs. The concept art for the original RT/10 is pretty incredible, I'd be all for breathing fresh life into those concepts 26208 26209

[BrianACR]

Food for thought:

A lot of people always compare the Viper to be a competitor to the Vette and that the Viper never had the same success as the corvette did. But did FCA ever really intend on having even the slightest capacity to pump out the number of cars Chevrolet did for the Corvette? The CAP doesn't seem to be able to pump this kind of volume. Even with the slight surge in sales for the final 2017 they were (and are) having trouble with their ordering system and delays for vehicles. I know there has been a shortage of parts from suppliers but could this plant even accommodate a high volume of production and would FCA would be willing to do what it takes to have a bigger assembly line?

But a Viper wouldn't be a Viper if it were mass produced. That would take away from the 'specialness' of the car. That's my own humble opinion of course.